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Visitors to Sanibel Island, near Fort Myers on southwest Florida's coast, enjoy miles of sandy beaches, clear water and beachcombing for the area's famous pastel seashells. You can also explore the bird-filled J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge nearby. Camping is not allowed on the beach or at the refuge, and you'll find just one privately owned campground on Sanibel Island where RV and tent campers can spend the night.

Campground

The Periwinkle Park & Campground (sanibelcamping.com) features campsites within a 10-minute walk to the beach. The campground caters to tents, RVs and trailers, and campsites have full electricity and water hookups along with picnic tables. Amenities include a restroom with showers and a laundry facility. The campground also sells LP gas and ice, with a grocery store and other shops just a few minutes away on foot. Watch for the toucans, macaws and brown and ringtail lemurs that live on the campground's property. Reservations are strongly recommended for the popular campground, because there are no other camping facilities in the area.

Nearby Activities

The campground is convenient to most of Sanibel Island's attractions. Boaters and fishermen flock to the nearby Intercoastal Waterway, which runs into the Gulf of Mexico. The Sanibel Marina (sanibelmarina.com) offers fishing boat charters, and a boat dock if you bring your own vessel. If you want to ride bikes or scooters, head to Billy's Rentals (billysrentals.com). You can also rent beach equipment, including chairs, boogie boards and umbrellas. Then head to one of Sanibel's numerous beaches to search for more than 400 species of seashells and to swim, sunbathe or enjoy water sports.

Wildlife Viewing

A short drive from the campground takes you to the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge consists of a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico that features more than 6,400 acres of mangrove forests. Migratory birds rely on the area as an important stopover in the spring and fall. For glimpses into this select habitat, take the 4-mile, one-way Wildlife Drive as it leads through the refuge. You can also ride your bicycle on any of the trails and along Wildlife Drive. The best time to see wildlife is during low tide when the birds search for food on the mudflats.

Planning

The beaches are the main attraction on Sanibel Island, so bring beach equipment, towels and plenty of sunscreen. If you plan to collect some of the area's famous shells, carry containers to hold them. Visitors to the wildlife refuge will want a pair of binoculars for easy viewing of the birds without disrupting their foraging.

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About the Author

Nancy Wagner is a marketing strategist and speaker who started writing in 1998. She writes business plans for startups and established companies and teaches marketing and promotional tactics at local workshops. Wagner's business and marketing articles have appeared in "Home Business Journal," "Nation’s Business," "Emerging Business" and "The Mortgage Press," among others. She holds a B.S. from Eastern Illinois University.